Day 4: God Knows The Future
Because GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING, I will go to Him with all my questions and worries.
Read or quote the memory verse: In Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. - Colossians 2:3, Discover God Bible, (NLT).
If you could know one thing about the future, what would you want to know?
God does know your future. Let's Read Psalm 139:16.
You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. - Psalm 139:16, Discover God Bible, (NLT).
Sometimes it's good to know the future; other times we may be glad we don't!
Jesus told Peter something about his future that he didn't want to hear: Luke 22:33, 34 records their conversation:
Peter said, "Lord, I am ready to go to prison with You, and even to die with You." But Jesus said, "Peter, let Me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you know Me." - Luke 22:33, 34, Discover God Bible, (NLT).
Try to pretend you are in Peter's place: He thought he was very brave, and yet Jesus said he was going to act like a coward and deny Him.
How do you think you would have felt if Jesus told you that?
Let's read what happened. Read Luke 22:54-64.
So they arrested Him and led Him to the high priest's home. And Peter followed at a distance. The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, 'This man was one of Jesus' followers!"
But Peter denied it. "Woman," he said, "I don't even know him!"
After a while someone else looked at him and said, "You must be one of them!"
"No, man, I'm not!" Peter retorted.
About an hour later someone else insisted, "This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too."
But Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you are talking about." And immediately while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord's words flashed through Peter's mind: "Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know Me." And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly."
- Luke 22:54-62, Discover God Bible, (NLT).
What do you think Peter might have thought when he heard the rooster crow the third time? (Clearly, he was very upset because he ran away crying bitterly.)
Jesus knew that one of His closest friends was going to deny he even knew Him. If your friend did that to you, how would you feel?
Let's read about what Jesus did. In Luke 22:31, Jesus is speaking.
Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to Me again, strengthen your brothers." - Luke 22:31, Discover God Bible, (NLT).
Jesus didn't make a guess about the future, He knew it, and because He knew it, He prayed that Peter's faith would be strong and that it would be used for God's glory.
If you were Peter, how do you think you would feel when you heard the rooster crow?
Jesus knows when we're going to blow it even before we do it. He loves us as much as He loves Peter. He died so our sins can be forgiven, and He gives us courage to keep going even when we blow it.
Jesus encouraged Peter to use his failure to encourage the others who had also abandoned Him. Peter spent the rest of his life doing just that! He told everyone he could about Jesus.
Why do you think it's important for God to know the future? (Nothing surprises Him: the good, the bad or the ugly, and He has it all worked out.)
Why does it matter?
Because God Knows Everything, He knows the future and He has planned for it according to His perfect will. No need to worry.
Talk with God and Stay Connected to the Vine!
Talk with God about how you feel regarding the fact that He knows everything that will ever happen. Are you glad that nothing ever catches Him by surprise?
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